My friend Linda and I were browsing in the gift shop before the show…We spotted this beauty…but there was only one!…The clerk said that there were more across the street from the show…the show was starting soon…but we ran out of the Music Hall..crossed barricades and darted into traffic..to get another ornament!..What we do for a great ornament…We made the show just in time!…:)

Tavern on the Green…so enjoyed our lunch there…so sad it is gone!

I recently received this beauty from a friend…

…..she knows how much I want to go to France…She has been there many times…

So if I concentrate on this enough…I may someday go…hope so K & K!!

I love my set of carolers that I place around the tree..

…..this is the other side of the tree…

And now I am going to share some more “vignettes” around the room…

I embellished my existing decor..something that I am going to do more of next year..

…..more natural….less is more.

The top of the secretary..I made the swag/garland..

…..and the print is a gift from my friend Sherry…the artist is from N.C.!

Hard to get a good pic of it due to the reflection…

Glad you are hanging in with me with all these pics…have lots to share..

…..before Christmas!

Down the stairwell are two vignettes of Byers Carolers…

Many of these have been generous gifts from family and friends…

My Salvation Army Collection…below the Thomas Kincaid limited edition he painted after 911.

Beautiful Shirley!! You have some incredible collections and I love the stories behind them! That tall tree is just beautiful too…that would make me nervous on a ladder that tall. That antique Salvation Army hat is nothing like I’ve ever seen…very special

Hi Shirley! Oh, your tree is just gorgeous and I always enjoy seeing the ornaments up close. I do understand the up and down the ladder as we have a 12 foot tree too. Now your little carolers are just darling and I love how you’ve set them up on your ledge. Your home is so beautiful and even more so decked out for Christmas! Sit down and have a hot cocoa – you deserve it. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia

We too have a 12 ft tree, but in comes in 5 sections that fold up, sort of like an upside down umbrella. We wired on lights and beaded garland with ‘branch clips’ on each section separately, and the top and upper 2 sections we clipped on ornaments, then assembled the sections. After assembly we finished the lower sections by using a 3 step stool. This really worked for us. I also have ‘cut back’ in the what my Husband calls “extreme decorating”. Less hectic and looks just as wonderful. {too bad it took me getting into my 50s to come to this conclusion }

So lovely, Shirley! I can’t believe you climb up and down that ladder a million times to adorn the tree. And I love all the secret mini vignettes scattered amongst the branches! Beautiful! And wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!

Shirley, I love your tree and love the whole room! I have gotten so much inspiration from fellow bloggers this year that I am planning to do things differently next year, not less, just different:):) I love the carolers. I also didn’t know that kincaid did a painting after 911. Joe would have loved that, I must look for it! I am so excited to go to my girlfriends house for New years Eve, she has a HUGE collection of over 500 Byers carolers. Not all Christmas but her house is a showcase at Christmas. We bot say if we ever stop deciorating for Xmas we will know it is time for the home;):) I llove that tree you have the fruit on too. You have so many BEAUTIFUL things. I love the big carolers around the tree. Your tree is majestic. I used to have some of that lacey gold ribbon….I will have to try to get soe more. XO, Pinky

GORGEOUS to the triple degree…phooey “less is more”, of course I believe in this saying as well, but now is the time for ’tis the season to be jolly’ … as long as you are able to decorate – and beautifully as you do, keep going – that time will come when we tell ourselves its way too much work to get them out of boxes and then wrap them back up….there is such a sense of love and pride to look at each decoration and feel ‘em and cherish the memories that they bring…thank you so much for sharing……..the prize is yours and for us to enjoy, thank you for sharing, Love and Blessings…

Beautiful as always.. I really love those two small white trees. And, yes, I do applaud you for going a little more natural, this year, but I think poinsettias are natural, too. Don’t they grow in nature? LOL I had forgotten about our experience when we purchased the Radio City ornaments. That’s what Christmas is really about…memories. Thanks for refreshing mine

I love that your tree tells a story of your lives. That is our tree too. I love unwrapping all of the ornaments and remembering the event or lifestage of the ornament. My greatest compliment came when my daughter asked if she could come unwrap the ornaments with me. Have a blessed Christmas.

Ten-foot ladder getting you down? TOO BAD!!!! That tree looks awesome, and it’s totally worth it!!! So just suck it up, sister, and get ‘er done again next year! The ornaments on it are really great, and the ribbon color is fabulous! That Salvation Army hat is WAY COOL!!!!!!!! What a great keepsake! I’m with you on embellishing existing decor. It’s actually a nice challenge to take something that is there all the time and make it look ready for the holidays! I love your carolers…they really up the festive quotient!!! Fabulous swag on the secretary!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are all ready, girl! Enjoy it!!! And keep that ladder oiled up…you’ll be needing it again in about 11 months!

As always a job well done!!! Even though we didn’t do the “tour” again it didn’t slow you down, but the good thing is you didn’t have to finish by the 1st weekend in Dec this year. Ask Tom about the ladder conversation with CK when he dropped off the burlap monogram. Throughly enjoy reading about your love of decorating. Merry Christmas to you, Tom & your family.

Shirley, everything is just beautiful, as always! Where you get the energy for all of this, I will never know…lol!!! You have done a gorgeous job. It’s a Christmas wonderland!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Beautiful Shirley. I’ll say that’s alot of ups and downs. I have a 9 1/2 ft. one in the family room and I am up and down alot also. You’d think I’d lose weight. Just doesn’t happen. Maybe it’s because I grad a goody everytime I’m down. Gotta keep up my strength. Enjoy your beautiful decor and have a very Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Jann

Shirley~ I’m trying to catch up with you…better late than never! Your 12 foot tree is so grand and a thing of beauty! The scale is perfect with the height of your ceiling and I love your glittery ribbon overlaying your green ribbon on your tree! There are some many wonderful vignettes to see~ I think the top of your secretary is my next favorite! Wishing your & your family the Merriest of Christmases!